Isuzu takes the fight to plastic waste

In line with this year’s World Environment Day (June 5) theme: Beat Plastic Pollution, Isuzu Motors South Africa reached out to its employees to encourage them to reduce plastic pollution in their personal lives.

“Each employee was asked to bring a bag full of plastic waste. In return they received a reusable shopping bag,” says Ncedisa Mzuzu, environmental manager at Isuzu.

“Respecting the environment and ensuring sustainable solutions is fundamental to our business philosophy. It is our responsibility to educate our employees about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. On a personal level they, too, can reduce their plastic usage and dispose of it more responsibly,” Mzuzu adds.

“Our waste separation stations enable employees to bring their separated garbage from home and deposit it into the relevant waste streams.”

As part of its daily operation, Isuzu continues to drive a culture of reduce, reuse and recycle. Over the past year, the company has recycled more than 96 percent of the waste generated at its four sites in Port Elizabeth.

The small percentage of left-over waste that cannot be recycled (both hazardous and non-hazardous) is sent to an energy-recovery facility and is used as alternative fuel for manufacturing cement.

“We regard waste as a resource that is able to create secondary and tertiary employment. Approximately 30 people are based at our facilities from different recycling organisations,” Mzuzu concludes.